The High Llamas
Hawaii
[Alpaca Park/V2]
Rating: 9.0
Like distant radio transmissions from Martiniland mingling with
Brian Wilson at Stereolab's beach house party, the High Llamas... well,
they pretty much got it goin' on.
Hawaii is two discs filled with more shockingly cheesy,
strings- and- vibes- powered instrumental magic than you could
ever dream of. It's the soundtrack to Chachi's high school
slow dance erection. And if you're as drawn the soundtracks to
the music of '80s made- for- television love scenes as I am,
you'll dig the tall- swaying- grass harmonies of "Ill-Fitting
Suits," the Zumpano- esque "Dressing Up the Old Dakota" and the
suave- new- day sounds of "Cuckoo's Out."
Through 35 tracks and 115 minutes of unstoppable cornball beauty,
strung together with half-minute interludes and segues, the High
Llamas show they can double-up the personalities of Nick Drake and
Ferrante and Teicher for a surprisingly refreshing, non-carbonated
soft drink called Fucking Bloody Wonderful.
-Ryan Schreiber